Tracking smelt: using acoustic telemetry to fill knowledge gaps for forage fish
Presentation Abstract
Acoustic telemetry is a powerful tool for monitoring the movements and behaviors of aquatic species. There are significant knowledge gaps regarding basic life history details for several forage fish species, including the delta smelt (H. transpacificus) in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River estuary in California, and the surf smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus) in Puget Sound in Washington. These species hold central positions in the food web, transferring energy from lower trophic levels up to salmon, birds, and marine mammals. We developed and tested tagging procedures for delta smelt that will enable future telemetry efforts, and we monitored the movements of tagged surf smelt in Puget Sound. The delta smelt is a small, critically endangered forage fish found only in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River estuary, where it is a central player in the debate on water management. We used cultured delta smelt to develop and test a procedure for the surgical implantation of acoustic transmitters. Attaching a transmitter is the first step in conducting a telemetry study, but this challenge has not yet been overcome in delta smelt due, in part, to their small size. We used a prototype acoustic transmitter, and compared the survival, growth, and wound healing of tagged fish to untagged fish. Findings from this effort will advance capabilities to use acoustic telemetry on delta smelt and to guide protection and restoration efforts. The goal of the surf smelt study was to understand how fish use the spawning beaches in the study area. Adult surf smelt were captured at Ross Point, in Port Orchard and near Illahee State Park in Bremerton during their winter spawning period. We implanted 35 fish with acoustic transmitters and monitored their movements in Sinclair Inlet, Dyes Inlet and Port Orchard Bay by a series of acoustic receivers. Tagged fish were consistently detected in the study area throughout the life of the transmitter (60 days).
Session Title
Forage Fish Management and Conservation in the Salish Sea
Conference Track
Species and Food Webs
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2016 12:00 AM
End Date
2016 12:00 AM
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Smelts--Monitoring--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Underwater acoustic telemetry--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Smelts--Monitoring--California--Sacramento-San Joaquin Estuary; Underwater acoustic telemetry--California--Sacramento-San Joaquin Estuary
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Tracking smelt: using acoustic telemetry to fill knowledge gaps for forage fish
2016SSEC
Acoustic telemetry is a powerful tool for monitoring the movements and behaviors of aquatic species. There are significant knowledge gaps regarding basic life history details for several forage fish species, including the delta smelt (H. transpacificus) in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River estuary in California, and the surf smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus) in Puget Sound in Washington. These species hold central positions in the food web, transferring energy from lower trophic levels up to salmon, birds, and marine mammals. We developed and tested tagging procedures for delta smelt that will enable future telemetry efforts, and we monitored the movements of tagged surf smelt in Puget Sound. The delta smelt is a small, critically endangered forage fish found only in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River estuary, where it is a central player in the debate on water management. We used cultured delta smelt to develop and test a procedure for the surgical implantation of acoustic transmitters. Attaching a transmitter is the first step in conducting a telemetry study, but this challenge has not yet been overcome in delta smelt due, in part, to their small size. We used a prototype acoustic transmitter, and compared the survival, growth, and wound healing of tagged fish to untagged fish. Findings from this effort will advance capabilities to use acoustic telemetry on delta smelt and to guide protection and restoration efforts. The goal of the surf smelt study was to understand how fish use the spawning beaches in the study area. Adult surf smelt were captured at Ross Point, in Port Orchard and near Illahee State Park in Bremerton during their winter spawning period. We implanted 35 fish with acoustic transmitters and monitored their movements in Sinclair Inlet, Dyes Inlet and Port Orchard Bay by a series of acoustic receivers. Tagged fish were consistently detected in the study area throughout the life of the transmitter (60 days).
